System for the control of dirigible devices from a distance



A. D. TRENOR. SYSTEM FOR THE CONTROL 0F DIRIGIBLE DEVICES FROM ADISTANCE.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE 3, 1918. RENEWED JUNE 24,1920.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

NWN

Lamm@ WIT/V588:

' his 770mm A. D. THENOR. SYSTEM FOR THE CONTROL OF DTRIGTBLE DEVICESFROM A DISTANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI-2,3, 1918. BENI-:WED JUNE 24,1920.

/W H55 77031415 Y Patented Apr. 5, 19

:fR/miss.-

man STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT D. TRENOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO JOHN IEIYS HAMMOND,JR.,

' OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHU'SETTS.Y

SYSTEM FOR THE CONTROL OF DIRIGIBLE DEVICES FROM A DISTANCE.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

Application led June 3, 1918, Serial N0. 237,921. Renewed June 24, 1920.Serial No. 391,552.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALBEN;` D. TRENOR, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented cer.

tain new and useful Improvements in Systems 4for the Control ofDirigible Devices From a Distance, of which the following is aspecification.

Some of the objects of this invention are to providean improved systemfor the control of dirigible bodies from a distance whereby a pluralityof different mechanisms may be selectively controlled by a minimumnumber of impulses or signals received from a distance; to provide acommon control for distributing motive fluid to a plurality of differentactuating devices and providing selective means operated froma distanceto position said common control 1n a predetermined manner to cause the'operation ofany one of said actuating devlces; to provide otherimprovements as w1l`ln appear ,heremafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan partly insection of a system embodying one form of this invention; Fig. 2 is adetail in elevation o f one part of the control mechanism; Figs. 3 to 10inclusive represent longitudinal sections of a control part of thesystem showing the same in various positions; Fig. 11 is an enlargedlongitudinal section of a detail forming a part of this invention;Fig.l12 is a detail in plan of the centering device controlled by thegyroscope; and Fig. 13 is a detail in bottom plan of the commutatorconstruction. A f

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of this invention comprisesany suitable dirigible device, for example a marine vessel (not'shown),which is provided with a rudder 10 pivotally connected thereto to swingwith respect thereto about a fixed axis 11. To oscillate the rudder 10about its axis 11 under pneumatic pressure, a cylinder 12 is rigidlysecured to the vessel and i. is provided with a piston A413 arranged toreciprocate` therein and which is rigidly secured to one en-d of apiston rod 14, the other end of which has a pivoted connection l5 'witha link 16 which in turn is pivoted at 17 to the arm 20 which is rigidwith the mounted upon the vessel to perform various functions, as willappear hereinafter, a tank 23 or other suitable'source of air or otherfluid under pressure is mounted upon the vessel and is connected to thevarious devices'as will bey described hereinafter.

Forvcontrolling the distribution of fluid under pressure from the source23 to various Huid actuated devices on the vessel, a main distributingvalve is provided comprising a tubular casing 24 having a cylindricalbore in which a cylindrical plug 25 is snugly but Vrotatably fitted.`The valve casing 24 is provided on one side with two fluid inlet ports26 and 27, an exhaust port 28, and three additional ports 30, 31 and 32,and upon its opposite side with two exhaust ports 33 and 34 and fourother ports 35, 36,

37 and 38. The valve casing 24 is also pro-- vided with two olppositelarranged ports 40 and 41 preferab y exten ing in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the ports 30, 35 of theV casing andopeningl lnwardly against the periphery of the plug 25. The valve plug25 is provided with four annular recesses 42, 43, 44 and 45, the first42 communicating with the exhaust port l33; thel second 43 with theinlet port 26; the third 44 with the inlet port 27 ;and the fourth 45with the exhaust port28. One end of thevalve plug'25 is -provided with acircumferential series of eight longitudinally arranged passages 50 51,52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, one

of which as 57 is normallyin communication with the annular recess 43and the remain- .ing passages 50 to 56 inclusive being `normally incommunication with the' annular recess 42 while all of said ports areadapted to registerl respectively with the ports 30, 35, 40 and 41, andwith respect to each other are spaced circumferentially forty-fivedegrees apart.l The opposite endk of the valve plug'25 is provided witha group of eightw circumferentially arranged longitudinally disposedpassages 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66

and 67, two of which, as 66 and 67, are normally in communication withthe annular recess 44 and the remaining passages 60 to 65 normally incommunication with the anvnular recess 45, all of said passages beingadapted. to register respectively with the and 76'and one passage 77bored into the' plug 25 and having two openings 78 and 79 on the surfaceof the plug, the latter being in communication with a passage 79extending diametrica-lly through the plug 25. The opening 78 is adaptedto register successively with the ports 32 and 37 and the opening 79 isadapted in one position 'to vregister directly .with the exhaust port 34and" in a second position to register indirectly with the exhaust port34 by way of the passage 79. The passage 76 is normally lincommunication with the annular recess 44 and is arranged to registerwith either the port 32 or theport 37 according to the position of thevalve plug 25, while the passages 70`to 75 incluslve are respec-,

tively adapted toregister with either the pair of ports 31 and 32 or thepair of ports 36`and 37 according to the position of the valve plug25.The passages 70 to 77 inclusive are angularly spaced one with respect toanother at a forty-five degree angle and consequently each eighth of arevolution of the valve plug 25 brings a different passage intooperation.

From the foregoing it will be evident that .the plug- 25 is provided-with three setsvof control passages, and in this connection it shouldbe noted that the respective passages of each set are in longitudinalalinement with the respective passages of the two other sets so that anymovement of the plug through one eighth of a revolutionjwill bring threedilerent passages into a position for control purposes.

For automatically controlling the flow of pressure fluid from the tankor source 23 through the valve casing.24 to maintain the vesselautomatically upon a predetermined course, as will appear hereinafter,an auxiliary valve 80 is arranged to reciprocate in a' fixed auxiliarycasing 81 and the opposite ends of the valve 80 are extended to l formcores 82 and 83 which reciprocate in xed solenoids`84 and 85respectively. The

valve 80 is Anormally held central by the` springs 86 and 87. The valvecasing 81 is provided with an inlet pipe 90 which con- 91 and 92 withthe oppositely disposed ports 31 and 36 of the mam valve casing 24. Thevalve 8()v is formed with an annular recess 93 with which the supplypipe90 normally communicates and the parts are so arranged that when thevalve is in a central position, as shown in Fig. 1, no air will beallowed to fiow from the inlet pipe 90, through the valve casing 81 toeither of the pipes 91 or 92, and these latter will be permitted toexhaust through the open ends of the valve casing 81. When, for example,the left hand solenoid 84 is energized the auxiliary valve 80 will bedrawn to the left a'sufiicient distance to establish communicationbetween the inlet pipe 90 and the pipe 91 while leaving the pipe 92 opento the exhaust, but when the current is broken through the solenoid 84and the right hand solenoid 85 is energized, the auxiliary valve 8()will be drawn to the right to establish communication between the inletpipe 90 and the pipe 92 and to leave the pipe 91 open to the exhaust. l

When the steering of the vessel is under the automatic control of valve80 the main valve plug 25 is in such a position as to establishcommunication between the pipe 91 and a pipe 94 by way of one of thepassages, as 70, and to also establish communication between the pipe 92and a pipe 95 by way of another of the passages, as 73, see Fig. 3.

f The pipe 94 is connected to the steering control cylinder 12 tocommunicate with one end thereof and the; pipe 95 is connected to thecylinder 12 to communicate with the opposite end, the arrangement beingsuchn that the piston 13 is intermediate the inlets of the two pipes andis accordingly Iioyied as one or the other supplies pressure Forautomatically energizing the solenoids 84 and 85 to maintain the vesselupon a predetermined course, any suitable dire"- tion maintaining meansmay beprovidedY but in the form ofv the invention shown there isprovid'ed for this purpose in a suitrotation in space with respect toits longitudinal axis. In llongitudinal alinement with the stem 97 isaspindle 99 which is arranged to rotate in a fixed bearing 100 and hasits lower portion in the form of a hollow cylinder 101 having a cap 102xed over its lower end, and within this cylinder 101 is arranged tovreciprocate a piston 103 which is fixed upon the end of a piston rod104, the lower portion of which projects slidably through the cap 102and through a yoke 105 lixedupon theupper end of the stem 97. The lowerend of the piston rod 104 has 'fixed thereon a clamping disk 106arranged to coperate with the yoke 105 to clamp the yoke against the cap102 to hold the spindle 99 fixed with respect to the gyroscope stem 97.A compressed spiral spring 107 normally presses thepiston 103 upwardlyto clamp the yoke 105 to the cap 102. For forcing the piston 103downwardly to disconnect the spindle 99 from the stem 97 the upperportion of the cylinder 101 communicates through a longitudinal passage108 with an annular recess 109 in the spindle 99 and from the recess 109by way of a pipe 110 to the port 38 of the main valve casing 24. Thespindle 99 has fixed thereto to move therewith -`a segmental contactdisk 111 having two points of insulation 112 to form two contactlsegments 113' and 114, the first 113 being connected by a ,conductor115 through a slip ring 113 with the windin of the solenoid 84, and thesecond 114 being connected by a conductor 116 through a sl1p ring 114with the winding of the solenoid 85. A contact arm 117 is secured toafixed partsuch as a bracket 118 and normally rests upon one point ofinsulation 112 between the segments 113 and 114, but is adapted toengage one or the other of vsaid segments 113 and 114 u on movement ofthe disk about its axis. il'he arm 117 forms the common return of thepins 126 upon the disk 111.

For pneumatically controlling a plurality of operative devicescontrolled by suitable pressure fluid motors, -not shown, the port 30 ofthe main valve casing 24 is provided with a pipe 130 leading to onedevice, such for example 'as an engine control; the port 35 is providedwith a pipe 131 leading to another device such for l, example as asearchlight shutter; and the ports 40 and 41 provided respectively withpipes 132 and 133 connecting respectively to other pressure fluidcontrolled devices. Pressure fluid is admitted to the valve casing 24 bythe ,pipes 127 and 128 communicating respectively with the ports 26 and27 and with compressed air tank 23 or like source.

For-rotating the valve plug 25 to control the distribution of fluidtothe various de-` vices 'on the' vessel, one end of the plug 25 isprovided with a projecting shaft 134 coaxial therewith and rigidlysecured thereto and upon this shaft 134 is xedly secured a sleeve 135havingas a-iixed part thereof a ratchet wheel 136. At one side of theratchet wheel 136 there is a pinion 137 loosely mounted on the sleeve135 and adapted to turn with respect thereto, this pinion 137 having aspring pressed pawl 138 arranged to coperate with the ratchet wheel 136so as to'turn the same in a clockwise direction when viewed as in Fig.2. At the opposite side of the ratchet wheel 136 there is another pinion140 also loosely mounted on the sleeve 135 and adapted to turn withrespect thereto and having a spring pressed pawl 141 arrangedto'copcrate with the ratchet wheel 136 so as to turn the same also in aclockwise direction when viewed as in Fig. 2.

For rotating the two pinions 137 and 140, two substantially parallelracks 142 and 143 are arranged to engage the opposite sides ofdetermined position (as shown in Fig. 1)

by a spiral spring,147 operatively located in the cylinder 145. yThe endof the cylinder 145 opposite to the spring end is provided with a'port148 controlled by a slide valve'150 arranged to reciprocate 1n a casing151 and alternately places the port 148 in communication with the supplypipe 152 and the exhaust pipe 153. The pipe 152 is connectedto the airsupply tank 23'and receives pressure iluidtherefrom as required.

Any suitable means may be provided to reciprocate the slide' valve 150but in the form ofthis invention shown the movable valve 150 is rigidwith a core 154 which is drawn in one direction by the energizing of asolenoid 155 'and in the other direction by a spring 156, which latteralso-maintains the valve in normal osition to cut oi the supply of.pressure uid. The solenoid 155 is 1n a normally open circuit includingthe battery 157 and detector 158 which is in the form of an evacuatedglass bulb having a terminal 160, grid 161 and filament 162- heatedbythe local circuit of. battery 163.

f The grid 161 is connected as usual with the primary closed oscillatorycircuit 164 having the variable condenser 165 and secondary transformercoil 166. kThe primary oscillatory circuit is :tuned-to the naturalfrequency of oscillation of an open aerial r circuit comprisin anantenna 170 in series with a primary co1l171 and grounded at 172.'

The construction and arrangement are such that when an impulse isreceived the solenoid v155 will be energized and thus pull the slideva1ve`150 to a position to close the exhaust pipe 153 and admit pressurefluid to the cylinder 145 back of the piston 146 thereby overcoming thepressure of the spring 147 and forcing the piston 146 and the racks 142and 143 to the right a suiiicient distance to rotate the pinion 137 inaclockwise direction throu h 45 degrees, while the pinion 140 is rotatein a counter-clockwise direction through 45.

This action results in the pawl 138 engaging the ratchet wheel 136 andturning the shaft 1,34 through 45 degrees while the pawl 141 of thepinion 140 rides freely over the ratchet 136 without doing any work. Atthe end of the impulse the solenoid 155 is deenergized and the spring156 returns slide valve 150 to a position to cut ofi' the pressure Huidto cylinder 145 and open the port 148 to the exhaust, whereupon thespring 147 causes the piston 146 to move to the left. The result of thisis a reverse movement of the racks 142 and 143 whereupon the pinion 140through its pawlv operatively engages the ratchet wheel 136 and movesthe shaft 134 in a clockwise direction through another 45 degrees. Thereturn movement of the rack-142 rotates the pinion 137 in aycounterclockwise direction without aliecting the ratchet wheel 136 sincethe pawl 138, in this direction of movement, merely rides over theratchet wheel 136.

In the operation of the form ofthe invention hereinbefore described, andshown in the several figures of the drawings, the movable body isnormally steered automatically upon a predetermined course through theaction of the gyroscope 96 and the coperatin mechanisms and for thispurpose movab e .valve plug 25 is normally positioned as shown in Fig.3, though the same result may be obtained with this part in otherpositions as will later appear.

Assuming that the valve parts 24and 25 are in the position shown in Fig.3 for automatically controlling the course of the vessel, then the pipe110 leading from the gyroscope clutch is open to exhaust through theport 38, passage 61, recess 45 and exhaust port 28, thus permitting theair to flow out of the upper part of the cylinder 101 to allow thespring 107 to press the piston -103 upwardly and to clamp the yoke- 105against the cap 102, thus holdin the spindle 99 and its disk 111 rigidlyin xed relation to the gyroscope stem 97, and when the armis thus held,if the vessel should deviate either to the right or to the left from itspredetermined Ycourse, the arm 117would make contact with one or theother of the contact segments 113 and 114 according to the direction ofmovement. Assuming the deviation of the vessel to be to the right, thenthe contact arm117 will swing with the vessel and contact with segment114 whereupon the circuit will be closed through conductor 116, righthand solenoid 85, conductor 120, battery 121 and arm 117, and thesolenoid 85 energized to draw the valve 80 toward the right and permitcompressed air to fiow from tank 23, pipe 90, annular passage 93,

Lamme pipe 92 passage 73 in pl' 25 pipe 95 into the right hand end ofcyilinder 12 vto move the plston 13 toward the left, thus swinging ytherudder 10 clockwise to restore the vessel to its predetermined course.In this movement of the piston 13 toward the left, the left hand end ofthe cylinder 12 will be free to exhaust through the pipe 9.4, passage inplug 25, pipe 91, to the valve casing 81 at the left hand end. Whenthepiston 13 is moved a suiicient distance Atoward the left to cause theboat to turn to the left a suiicient amount to bring the arm 117 to restagain upon the insulation, the circuit through the right hand solenoid85 will be broken and the valve 80will be restored to normal positionbythe springs 86 and 87, thus cutting oil' communication between the airsupply pipe 90 and the pipe 92 and permitting this pipe 92 to' exhaustthrough the right hand end of the valve casing 81, thus relieving theright hand end of cylinder 12 and allowing the piston 13 to be returnedto a' central position by the springs 21 and 22. If the vessel shoulddeviate toward the left,

-the same automatic action takes place but bringing the solenoid 84 intooperation and the set of pipes and ports necessary to admit air to theleft hand end of cylinder 12 to shift the rudder to return the vessel toits predetermined cours'e.

When it is desired to take over the control of the vessel from thegyroscope and steer the vessel at will from a distance in response toimpulses of radiant energy, the required number of impulses are sent toturn thevalve plug 25 to release the gyroscope control and position theplug passages to properly give the desired shifting of the steerlngpiston 13.l

Assuming that it is desired to steer the vessel to the right by distantcontrol and assuming that the valve parts 24 and 25 are in the normalposition, as shown in Fig. 3,' a relatively short impulse is sent andreceived by the antenna 1-70 whereby the solenoid 155 is energized tocause the valve 150 to admit pressure Huid to the cylinder 145 4and thepiston 146 reciprocated one stroke. The or-.` i

ward half of this piston stroke, by means of the rack 142, pinion 137,pawl 138 and ratchet wheel 136, turns the valve plug 25 clockwise aneighth of a 'revolution to the position of] Fig. 4, and upon the returnstroke 'of the piston, which takes place in this instance immediately,the valve plug 25 is continued in its clockwise movement another eighthof a revolution by the action of the rack 143 and the associated parts.AThe transmitted impulse has thus brought the valve parts to theposition shown in Fig. 5, wherein the gyroscope control is releasedbecause the pipe 110. is now in communication `by way of port 67 andrecess 44 with the pressure fluid supply pipe 128 and consef quently thepiston 103 is moved against the whereupon the parts will bein theposition pressure of the spring 107 to release the clutch heretoforeconnecting the parts together. Also. the valve plug 25 is in position toconnect the pipe 95 by passage 77 with the exhaust port 34 and tosimultaneously' connect pipe 94 by passage 76 and recess 44 with thepressure fluid supply pipe 128. The pipes 91 and 92 from theelectro-magnetic control valve are cut oli and the steering accomplishedindependently of the automatic control. Pressure iuid is thereforeadmitted through pipe 94 to the left end of cylinder 12, thus forcingthe piston 13 toward the right to swing the rudder 10 counter-clockwiseto turn thevessel toward the right. During this movement of the rudderthe right hand end of cylinder 12 is free to exhaust through pipe 95,passage 77 and exhaust port 34.

When it is desired to steer the vessel toward the left the valve plug 25is rotated through one half a revolution from the position shown in Fig.5, by sending the re quired number of im ulses to energize the solenoid155 the required number of times,

indicated in Fig. 9 and the automatic con- ,trol cut out as heretoforeexplained, and the right end of the cylinder 12 will be in communicationwith the pressure fluid supply ipe 128 and the left hand end of thecylinder 12 will be open to the exhaust through the pipe 94, passage 77,passage 79' and exhaust port 34, and the rudder 10 will be -rotatedclockwise to steer the vessel toward the left. When it is desired tooperate any of the auxiliary devices under the control of the pipes 130,131, 132 and 133 without disturbing the automatic steering control thefollowing o peration takes place, it being assumed, by way of example,that vthe device controlled by pressure fluid through pipe 132 is theone to be actuated. With the valve 25 in the neutral position of Fig. 3,a long impulse is transmitted to'energize the solenoid 155 and causepressure fluid to be admitted to the cylinder 145 to move the racks 142and 143 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, and hold them in suchposition for the length of the impulse. This rack movement turns thevalve plug 25 through 45 into the position shown in Fig. 4 wherein airenters the pipe 127 and passes by wayof groove 43 and passage 57 to pipe132 by which it is delivered to a suitable fluid operated means foroperating the desired auxiliary device. The automatic steering controlis not interfered with and remains operative because the passages 72 and75 have respectively move into the position of the passages 73 and 70 sothat the pipes 91 and 94, and 92 and 95 are still in communication. Alsothe pie 110 is still in communication with the e aust port 28 so that`the gyroscope is effective. The impulse is of suflicient length toallow the pressure iiuid to operate the selected device and when theimpulse is stopped the return movement of the racks 142 and 143 ,turnsthe valve plug 25 through another 45 into the position shown in Fig. 5,which is a Vposition to cut out the automatic steering control and tocause the boat to be steered to the right. Unless this is the actiondesireda short impulse is immediately sent to again reciprocate theracks 142 and 143 and cause the valve plug 25 to turn through 90, namelyfrom the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 7, which latter 1s aneutral position as far as the auxiliary devices are concerned butallows the boat to remain under automatic control. In this manner thevalve plug 25 may be rotated to any selected position by varying thelengthV of the impulse, the long impulse being effective to connect adesired auxiliary device with a source of pressure iuid for a sufficient time to operate that device and yet without disturbing conditionsof automatic steering control. It should be noted that in the presentform it is perferable to have but one auxiliary device operable at atime, and consequently when the valve lug 25 is in a position to controlone suc device the pipes for the remaining auxiliary devices areconnected with the exhaust 33.

In each of the positions indicated in Figs.

4, 6, and 8 and 10 the valve parts 24 and 25 are located to maintain theautomatic steering control in operation while permit-` vices, of asource of pressure fluid, and

means including a single rotatable valve member operative in response toan impulse of energy to cause the distribution of pressure fluid'l fromsaid source to one of said devices to actuate the same and operativeupon the cessation of said impulse to cause the distribution of pressurefluid from said source to another of said devices to operate the same.

2. The combination with a dirigible body, of steering means therefor,direction maintaining means carried by said body and automaticallyoperative to control said steering means to direct said body upon apredetermined course,v and means including a single rotatable valvemember operative in response to an impulse of energy to move said valveto one position and operative as a result of the cessation of saidimpulse to render said direction maintaining means inoperative and ytochangeA the direction of ymovement of said body through said steerand toadmit pressure Huid to said steering means to ldirect said body in' a'predetermined manner, said responsivevmeans being operative upon thecessation o f'another impulse to vrotate said rotatable member in thesame direction to another position to restore said direction maintainingmeans as an automatic control of said steering means.

4. In acontrol system for dirigible bodies, a multiple portvalveincluding a rotatable control element, a source of pressure fluidcontrolled by said valve, means for rotating said control element in onedirection, means responsive to impulses of radiant energy for operatingsaid rotating means to move said control element to a' predeterminedposition, means rendered operative upon the cessation of an impulse tocontinue the rotation of said control element in the same direction toanother position, a steering device, means controlled by said valve forcausing said steering device to be automatically.; :operated, andindependent meansgcintrolled by said valve for causingsai'd steeringdevice to be operated at will from a'iistance.

5. In a control system for 'dirigible bodies, a multiple port valveincluding a rotatable control element, a source of pressure fluidcontrolled by said valve, means for rotating said control element in onedirection, means responsive to impulses of radiant energy for operatinsaid rotating means to move said control e ement to a predeterminedposltion, means rendered operative upon the cessation of an impulse tocontinue the rotation of said control element in the same direction toanother position, a steering device, means controlled by said valve forcausing said steering device to be automatically operated, independentmeans controlled by said valve for causing said steerin device to beoperated at will from a dlstance, and means for rendering said automaticmeans inoperative when said steering device is controlled at will.i

6. In a control system for dirigible bodies, a steering means, amultiple port valve including a rotatable control element, a source ofpressure fluid controlled by said valve, a plurality of distributingpipes connected respectively to auxiliary control devices, andmeansresponsive to impulses of radiant energy to rotate said valve toselectivel Icontrol said distributing pipes and to simu taneouslymaintain automatic control of said source o pressure fluid controlled bysaid valve, a plurality of distributing pipes con nected respectively toauxiliary control devices, and means responsivev to a relatively longimpulse of radiant ener to shift said valve to admit pressure fluid toone distributing pipe and to simultaneously maintain automatic controlof v said steering means and responsive to asucceeding short impulse torestore said valve to a neutral position with said' steering means undersaid automatic control. v

9. In a control system for dirigible bodies, a steering means, amultiple port valve including a single rotatable valve member, a sourceof pressure Huid controlled by said valve, a plurality of distributingpipes connected respectively to auxiliary control devices, and meansresponsive to a relatively.

long impulse of radiant energy to rotate -said valve member to admitpressure Huid to one distributing pipe and to simultaneously maintainautomatic control of said steering means and responsive to a succeedingshort impulse to restore said valve to a neutral position withsaidsteering means under said automatic control.

10. The combination with a dirigible body, of steering means therefor,direction maintaining means carried by said body and automaticallyoperative to control said steering means to direct said body upon apredetermined course, a source of pressure fluid, a single rotatablevalve member operative to control the admission of said pressure fluidto said steering means, a plurality of distributing pipes connectedrepectively to auxiliary divices and controlle by said valve, and meansresponsive to impulses of radiant energy to position said valve toselect a predetermined distributing 'pipe for pressure fluid and tosimultaneously maintain said automatic direction maintaining meansoperative to steer said body.

11. The combination with a plurality of vices, of a source of pressurefluid, and

`means including Ia valve member operative in response tov an impulse ofenergy to cause the distribution of pressure `Huid from said sourcetoone of said devices to actuate 'the same, and operative upon thecessation of Ysai 1f-imp111`se to cause the distributies of pressurefluid from said source to another of said devices to o erate the same.

Signed at New ork, in the county of 27th day of May, A. D. 1918. Y

'- ALBERT D. TRENOR,

'New York and kState of New York, this

